Clarence Thomas was appointed by George H. W. Bush. He is not a well known justice except for his notable opinions. As the only African American on the court, some believe he has let down his race and doesn't care about defending African Americans.
David Souter was also appointed by George Bush senior. When he was appointed, he was a relatively new judge and did not have much of an identity. Republicans hoped he would swing far right while Democrats hoped he would stray to the left. To this day, he has yet to identify himself with one party, as he has made opinions in support of both parties.
William Rehnquist
Appointed to Chief Justice in 1986, Rehnquist was shortly able to enjoy leading a mostly conservative Supreme Court. Although conservative, he believed in compromising in order to gain a larger majority.
William J. Brennan, Jr.
Appointed by Eisenhower in 1956 who later regretted the decision because William Brennan became one of the most liberal and influencial justices on the court. He retired in 1990 because of his health.
Byron R. White
After helping to organize Kennedy's campaign, Kennedy appointed Byron White in 1962. Throughout his time on the court, he established a moderate view point but was unable to acquire a leadership position among his fellow justices.
Harry A. Blackmun
Harry Blackmun was appointed by Eisenhower and was close friends with the then Chief Justice Warren Burger. Although friends with a conservative, Blackmun developed a trend towards liberal beliefs, most notably his opinion that abortion was a constitutional right.
John Paul Stevens
John Paul Stevens was appointed by Gerald Ford in 1975. Throughout the time of his service on the court, he has yet to truly define his loyalty to one of the political parties. When compared to the other, more conservative, justices on the Supreme Court, Stevens appears more moderate.
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Conner was appointed by Ronald Reagan, who some people believe was just trying to fulfill his campaign promises. Although there was much criticism of her experience and position on issues, especially from Democrats, she was able to overcome the criticism and firmly defined her support for Democrats by her defense of the Roe v. Wade case.
Antonin Scalia
Scalia was appoined by Reagan in 1986 following Rehnquist's promotion to Chief Justice. Antonin Scalia is one of the most outspoken justices on the Supreme Court and his extravagent manner of speaking has caused tension in his relations with the other justices.
Anthony M. Kennedy
Anthony Kennedy was appointed by Reagan in 1988 after two other choices were not approved by the Senate. During his time on the court, Kennedy strengthened his reputation as a reliable conservative.
Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall was appointed by Lyndon Johnson in 1967 and was the first black person to serve on the Supreme Court. Marshall was a strong liberal justice on the increasingly conservative Supreme Court. After retiring in 1991, he died of heart failure in 1993.
Pivotal Supreme Court Cases
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
At a 1984 Republican convention, Johnson burned an American flag in protest against the Reagan administration and was arrested for desecrating a venerated object, which was a violation of a Texas statute. After his prosecution was affirmed and reversed in different Texas courts, the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled that Johnson could not lawfully be convicted for burning the flag, as it would violate the First Amendment.
United States v. Eichman (1990)
The Flag Protection Act of 1989 was created in response to the Texas v. Johnson ruling. This Act made it illegal to desecrate the American flag. In 1990, however, after a series of incidents where individuals were knowingly burning flags, the Court held its decision in the Johnson case in declaring the Act a violation of the First Amendment.
Cruzan v. Director of Missouri Department of Health (1990)
Nancy Cruzan sustained severe injuries after an automobile accident and was staying in the care of a Missouri state hospital. Cruzan was said to be in a 'persistent vegetative state', having motor reflexes but no indications of significant cognitive function. The parents of Cruzan wanted to terminate her artificial nutrition and hydration, which would result in her death. Hospital employees refused to honor the parents' request. The Supreme Court ruled that the Missouri Department of Health was in the right when it required clear and convincing evidence that the patient wished to be removed from life-sustaining treatment.
List of Major Federal Court Cases:
Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris (1989): it was ruled that the 'composition' of the Board was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment.
Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (1990): the court ruled that governor James Thompson's employee practices amounted to an unconstitutional patronage system.
South Carolina v. Gathers (1989): the Court held that when imposing the death penalty, the defendant's punishment must be tailored to his personal responsibility and moral guilt, not to the victim's own characteristics.
Arizona v. Fulminante (1991): the Court ruled against forced/coerced confessions.
United States v. Fordice (1992): the Court ruled that Alabama had not done enough to limit segregation in its universities, the issue was then turned over to the state courts to be resolved.
Wilson v. Seiter (1991): In order for a prisoner to claim that the conditionsof his confinement violate the Eight Amendment, he must show 'a culpable state of mind on the part of prison officials'.
Florida v. Bostick (1991): the Court ruled the random bus searches, done at the consent of the passenger, was not unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court, Congress, and Bush:
With a conservative President and democratic Congress the two were often at each others throats. The Supreme Court for a while was neutral if not a little more liberal thus giving an advantage to Congress over the President but while Bush was in office he was able to appoint two conservative justices in place of two heavily liberal justices. This major shift on the court can still be seen today with our conservative court as both appointed judges, Souter and Thomas, are still there.
Justice Biographies
Pivotal Supreme Court Cases
- Texas v. Johnson (1989)
- At a 1984 Republican convention, Johnson burned an American flag in protest against the Reagan administration and was arrested for desecrating a venerated object, which was a violation of a Texas statute. After his prosecution was affirmed and reversed in different Texas courts, the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled that Johnson could not lawfully be convicted for burning the flag, as it would violate the First Amendment.
- United States v. Eichman (1990)
- The Flag Protection Act of 1989 was created in response to the Texas v. Johnson ruling. This Act made it illegal to desecrate the American flag. In 1990, however, after a series of incidents where individuals were knowingly burning flags, the Court held its decision in the Johnson case in declaring the Act a violation of the First Amendment.
- Cruzan v. Director of Missouri Department of Health (1990)
- Nancy Cruzan sustained severe injuries after an automobile accident and was staying in the care of a Missouri state hospital. Cruzan was said to be in a 'persistent vegetative state', having motor reflexes but no indications of significant cognitive function. The parents of Cruzan wanted to terminate her artificial nutrition and hydration, which would result in her death. Hospital employees refused to honor the parents' request. The Supreme Court ruled that the Missouri Department of Health was in the right when it required clear and convincing evidence that the patient wished to be removed from life-sustaining treatment.
List of Major Federal Court Cases:- Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris (1989): it was ruled that the 'composition' of the Board was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment.
- Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois (1990): the court ruled that governor James Thompson's employee practices amounted to an unconstitutional patronage system.
- South Carolina v. Gathers (1989): the Court held that when imposing the death penalty, the defendant's punishment must be tailored to his personal responsibility and moral guilt, not to the victim's own characteristics.
- Arizona v. Fulminante (1991): the Court ruled against forced/coerced confessions.
- United States v. Fordice (1992): the Court ruled that Alabama had not done enough to limit segregation in its universities, the issue was then turned over to the state courts to be resolved.
- Wilson v. Seiter (1991): In order for a prisoner to claim that the conditionsof his confinement violate the Eight Amendment, he must show 'a culpable state of mind on the part of prison officials'.
- Florida v. Bostick (1991): the Court ruled the random bus searches, done at the consent of the passenger, was not unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court, Congress, and Bush:Intro
Congress
The Presidency